Stays Near the Château d'Annecy

Les Jardins du Chateau is a three-bedroom city apartment in Annecy with two bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen, which gives a family plenty of room and makes mornings easier. The private terrace and the garden give children space outside. The Château d'Annecy is a minute's walk away, so the old town and its sights are on the doorstep. WiFi is free. As a self-catering apartment, it has no restaurant or reception services listed, so meals are prepared in or taken out.

Rivage Hôtel & Spa Annecy is a four-star hotel that covers the practical basics for families: air-conditioned rooms, some with a balcony, a buffet breakfast to start the day and a restaurant with a terrace for evenings when nobody wants to go far. The spa gives parents a break, and pets are welcome, which helps if the dog travels too. Its 8.9 score across more than 2,600 reviews is a reassuring signal for a family booking.

The lakeshore setting is what makes the Impérial Palace work for families: the shaded terrace overlooks Lake Annecy, and many rooms have balconies with lake or park views, a pleasure when children are asleep and the evening is still young. Rooms are air-conditioned, and the casual brasserie is an easy option with children alongside the terrace restaurant. The spa suits parents taking turns, and the casino is strictly for the adults.

Allobroges Park Hôtel is a short walk from Annecy Château and the lake, and for a family wanting to explore the old town on foot I would see it as a well-placed base. Rooms are soundproofed and air-conditioned, which helps children sleep in the centre during summer, and some have exposed beams. The summer terrace is pleasant for a break. With a bar open around the clock the mood leans adult. An 8.9 score over nearly 3,000 reviews is excellent.

Families who want to walk everywhere in Annecy get a useful address here: the Hôtel du Château stands at the foot of the castle, above the old town, with the lake a short stroll downhill. Rooms are simply decorated, with private bathrooms and a TV, so this is a base rather than a resort. The panoramic terrace is the place to start the day after the continental breakfast. A score of 8.8 from more than 2,200 reviews is reassuring.

ROYAL Annecy Apparthôtel is a self-catering aparthotel just 200 metres from Lake Annecy and 350 metres from the Palais de l'Isle, which I find a strong position for families. Each apartment has a flat-screen TV, a seating area, a fully equipped kitchenette and free WiFi. A fitness room and luggage storage are available, useful on arrival and departure days. Pets are welcome, so the dog can stay in the apartment with you.

Hôtel de Bonlieu is 500 metres from Lake Annecy and a short walk from Annecy Castle, so a family can reach the water and the old town on foot. Rooms are air-conditioned and soundproofed, with free WiFi, which helps on warm summer nights. Breakfast is a continental buffet, and it can also be brought to the room for a slower start. The front desk is open 24 hours, and families and pets are welcome. More than 1,300 reviews give it 8.6.

For a family, the strongest card is the kitchen: an oven, a microwave, a toaster, a dishwasher and a Nespresso machine, plus a cot and baby equipment on request, which makes early dinners and nap schedules easy in a town where restaurants serve at fixed hours. The triplex has three sleeping spaces over three levels; the duplexes pair a king-size bed with a sofa bed. The building lift, 80 by 130 cm with a door of at least 77 cm, takes a folded pushchair, but the inner staircases of the duplex and triplex remain, and the fireplace and steam shower need an adult nearby with toddlers. Outside, the Château d'Annecy is about 200 m away and the Palais de l'Isle about 300 m, both on foot through pedestrian lanes. Pets are accepted with a supplement, so the family dog can come along.

Aparthotel Adagio Annecy Centre offers studios and apartments 500 metres from the castle and the old town, and for a family that wants its own kitchen in Annecy I would put it near the top. Lake Annecy is 1 km away and the train station a short walk, so a car is optional. Pets are accepted, the reception is open 24 hours and there is a fitness centre. An 8.4 score over nearly 3,000 reviews suggests a reliable stay.

For a family on a budget, I would consider Centre Jean XXIII for its space to spread out: a sun terrace, a shared lounge and rooms with private bathrooms, some with lake or city views. It sits 1.8 km from Lake Annecy and 3 km from the old town, so plan on walking or driving. There is no air conditioning, which matters in July and August. A score of 8.2 over more than 3,000 reviews is reassuring.